Yakult vs. Yakult Light vs. Yakult Balance vs. Yakult Plus vs. Yakult 1000: Differences and Reviews 2024

• About Yakult

Yakult is a probiotic milk beverage manufactured by a Japanese company. The beverage is made by fermenting skim milk with a strain of bacteria called Lactobacillus casei Shirota (LcS). The sweet-citrusy drink has over 6.5 billion good bacteria. The bacteria present in Yakult reach the intestine to provide several health benefits to the body.

The first real benefit of the probiotics from Yakult is that they aid your body with digestion. All of the good bacteria living in your intestines help your body break down and absorb a lot of the food that you eat. 

By helping out these bacteria with probiotic-rich foods, your whole digestive system works just a little bit better. If you have problems with regularity, you might benefit from drinking two servings of Yakult every day.

In 1991 Yakult decided to go to Europe and specifically to the Netherlands. The choice for the Netherlands was well considered. The most important selection criterion for the European production location in Almere was (and still is) the high drinking water quality. Next to that, The Netherlands is known because of its high dairy technology. And the central geographic position of the Netherlands provides a perfect gateway to the rest of Europe. The Dutch consumer was ready to be introduced to Yakult, a complete new kind of dairy drink. In fact, Yakult was the first probiotic drink in the European market.

To meet the consumer's needs in Europe, Yakult Light was developed in 2002. Yakult Light became Yakult Balance in 2023, contains vitamin D, has only 2.9 g sugar per bottle and added sweeteners like maltitol and steviol. In 2014, Yakult launched Yakult Plus, containing vitamin C and dietary fibers. Yakult Plus contains only 2.7 g sugar per bottle and has added sweeteners like maltitol and steviol. In 2024 Yakult Plus got a delicious peach flavour, uniquely developed for the European consumers.

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• The Comparison & Review

| Yakult Nonfat Probiotic Yogurt Drink

Price: $2.98/2.7 Fl Oz at Walmart

Key Ingredients: Nonfat Milk, Sugar, Glucose, Lactobacillus Casei Shirota

Per Serving (80ML): 50 calories, 0 g fat (0 g saturated fat), 15 mg sodium, 12 g carbs, 0 g fiber, 10 g sugars (9g added sugars),  1 g protein

Yakult is different from other probiotic drinks because of its very specific probiotic strain, Lactobacillus casei Shirota. This strain has been extensively studied and shown to have positive effects on the gut microbiota.

Yakult has 6.5 billion LCS bacteria per bottle! It does a wonderful job at keeping your gut microbiome healthy and populous. Plus, your gut bacteria don't just support your digestion. They can also help with other bodily functions like facilitating gut-brain interactions that affect mood and metabolism. 

As well as the promised health benefits, this bacteria helps to give the drink its sweet, tangy, somewhat fruity flavour.

| Yakult Light Probiotic Drink

Price: $3.59/13.5 Fl Oz at Target

Key Ingredients: Nonfat Milk, Sugar, Glucose, Reb A (Stevia Extract), L, Paracasei Strain Shirota

Per Serving (80ML): 25 calories, 0 g fat (0 g saturated fat), 15 mg sodium, 6 g carbs, 2 g fiber, 9 g sugars (1g added sugars), 1 g protein

Review: Yakult Light is a delicious probiotic drink with stevia extract (Reb-A). Yakult Light contains around 8 billion of our exclusive probiotic strain lactobacillus casei shirota per bottle. Drinking one or two bottles daily may balance your digestive system and maintain overall health.  Each pack contains five 2.70oz bottles, perfectly portioned for convenience and on-the-go enjoyment. With its smooth and refreshing citrus taste, Yakult probiotic drink is an excellent choice for those looking to incorporate probiotics into their daily routine. Its Non Fat, Gluten Free, and Cholesterol Free.

Yakult vs. Yakult Light

Yakult is a fermented dairy drink that originated in Japan in the 1930s. The key ingredient is the probiotic strain Lactobacillus casei Shirota, which is believed to confer various health benefits. The drink is not only tasty but is also packed with live and active probiotic cultures that support gut health.

Yakult Light is a variation of the original Yakult, tailored for individuals seeking a lower-calorie and lower-sugar alternative. While it maintains the signature Lactobacillus casei Shirota strain, it reduces the sugar content to cater to those with specific dietary preferences or restrictions.

| Yakult Balance Probiotic Drink

Price: £3.70/8 X 65ML at Tesco

Key Ingredients: Skimmed Milk, Maltitol Syrup, Glucose-Fructose Syrup, Steviol Glycosides From Stevia, Vitamin E, Vitamin D, Contains L. Casei Shirota Bacteria

Per Serving (65ML): 27 calories, 0 g fat (0 g saturated fat), 8.8 g carbs, 2.9 g sugars, 0.8 g protein, 0.75 µg Vitamin D, 1.80 µg Vitamin E

Review: Yakult's popular Yakult Light is becoming Yakult Balance across Europe, including the UK. With a new name and fresh look, the contents inside the bottle won't change, so Yakult Balance will still be providing consumers all the same benefits and refreshing lemon flavour as before.

An easy way to support a balanced lifestyle, each bottle of Yakult Balance contains billions of friendly L. casei Shirota bacteria, which are scientifically proven to reach the gut alive and increase the bacteria in the gut.

Yakult Balance is also enriched with vitamin D – which supports immunity and muscle & bone health, as well as vitamin E – which helps maintain healthy skin and eyes and strengthen the immune system.

| Yakult Plus Probiotic Drink

Price: £6.85/8 X 65ML at McGrocer

Key Ingredients: Skimmed Milk, Maltitol Syrup, Glucose-Fructose Syrup, Steviol Glycosides From Stevia, Vitamin E, Vitamin D, Contains L. Casei Shirota Bacteria

Per Serving (65ML): 30 calories, 0 g fat (0 g saturated fat), 6.8 g carbs, 2.7 g sugars, 2.1 g fiber, 0.8 g protein, 24 mg Vitamin C

Review: The drink features 20-billion L. casei Shirota probiotics that are scientifically proven to reach the gut and provide essential support for good gut health. The drink also boasts fiber for a prebiotic effect, while vitamin C in the recipe helps support a person's overall wellbeing. 

Vitamin C supports the normal functioning of the immune system and contributes to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue. Each bottle of Yakult plus accounts for 30% of the EU reference intake for vitamin C.

The drink has a vegetarian-friendly recipe that is gluten and fat-free, and features 30-calories per serving. Yakult Plus contains 69% less sugar and 30% fewer calories than Yakult Original.

| Yakult 1000 Probiotic Drink

Key Ingredients: Sugar, Skimmed Milk Powder, Glucose-Fructose Syrup, High Fructose Syrup, Flavorings

Per Serving (100ML): 63 calories, 0.1 g fat, 14.1 g carbs, 1.5 g protein

Yakult 1000 (and Yakult Y1000) is a probiotic yogurt drink first released nationwide (Japan) by Yakult back in 2021.

Yakult 1000 contains 100 billion units of the healthy lactic acid bacteria strain known as "Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota" (a strain discovered by Yakult's founder Dr. Shirota).

This is the highest density ever put into Yakult drink. Compare this to the other versions like "New Yakult" which only contains 20 billion units, or "Yakult 400", which contains just 40 billion units.

A couple of scientific studies showed that daily/frequent consumption of this higher density helped to relieve anxiety, as well as stress-induced abdominal dysfunction.

Another study showed that daily consumption could help maintain sleep quality in times of increasing stress.

One other main benefit — similar to all other versions of Yakult — is improved digestion / intestinal health.

• Conclusion

While all Yakult products contain the same probiotic bacteria (Lactobacillus casei Shirota), the key difference lies in their sugar and calorie content, with "Yakult Light" & "Yakult Balance" being the lower calorie option compared to the original Yakult, while "Yakult Plus" is enriched with Vitamin C and fiber, and "Yakult 1000" is a premium version often marketed for its potential to support sleep quality and stress management with a higher concentration of probiotics;. 

Breakdown:

Yakult (Original):

Standard Yakult with the typical amount of sugar and calories. 

Yakult Light:

Contains less sugar and calories than original Yakult

Yakult Balance:

Contains less sugar and calories than original Yakult, with added vitamins like Vitamin D and E. 

Yakult Plus:

Enriched with Vitamin C and dietary fiber, usually with a slightly different flavor profile. 

Yakult 1000:

A premium Yakult with a higher concentration of probiotics, often marketed for its potential to improve sleep and manage stress. 

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